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Monday, January 23, 2017

KENYA: Knife-rapists go door-to-door

Circumcisers in Kuria embark on door-to-door forceful
circumcision

by George Juma For Citizen Digital

Police in Kuria East Sub County have vowed to take
punitive measures against elders and circumcisers in the region who
have embarked on a door-to-door forceful traditional cut for both males
and females. ["Forceful
circumcision" is a double euphemism. It would be better called "rape by
knife".]
The circumcisers and the elders, also known as Wazee wa
Kimila, reportedly move door-to-door fishing out the girls and boys who
are yet to face the cut and ferrying them forcefully for circumcision
at established places.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, Kuria East Sub County
Deputy County Commissioner Mr Westly Koech said that so far they have
arrested several people linked to the outlawed exercise during their
ongoing anti-FGM operations in the region.

On Monday, Mr Koech said they arrested three suspects
who were found moving door-to-door harassing the family of the
uncircumcised individuals and have put them behind bars.

He said the group of circumcisers and the elders are
crisscrossing the sub county on a motorbike looking for uncircumcised
people and forcing them to undergo the cut.

The DCC said old men
who had been circumcised at health facilities are also being forced to
undergo the traditional cut, adding that police on Monday
rescued an old man who was being ferried on a motorcycle for
circumcision.

Mr Koech has issued a stern warning to the circumcisers
and any other person linked to FGM in Kuria or forceful circumcision
for men in the region saying that they are not going to spare them in
the ongoing crackdown in the region.

He further faulted the victims of such harassment saying
that most of them are not willing to come to the station to record
statements to enable police to take action. He, however, assured that
they are pursuing the suspects.